John ast



@uiten tstre @anni @fitte IMPROVEMENT IN SLBIGH-BRAKE.

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Be it known that I, JOHN AST, ofthe town of Maquoketa, in 'the county 'of Jackson, and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful lBrake for Sleighs; and I do hereby declare that the following is arfull and 'exact description' of the construction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, making a part of this specification, iu which- Figure 1 is a perspective view.

Figure 2, a. trxinsverse section. V

The nature of my invention consists in attaching to the sleigh-runners two slotted levers C C, bolted through -the runners at' D.A The levers are forked so as to embrace both sides o f the runners, forming two curved knife edges, capable of beingdepressed into' the surface of the ground by the operation of `the machine. The slotted levers'C C arcrconnected by means of the bolt F with the crank-arm E, the crank being. secured to the rod or bar 4]3,.extending from one sde'of the sleigh to the other, and having a similar crank on the opposite end operating the forked lever on that side, so that when the rod B is turned in^its bcaringsrX X by means of the lever L, the-cranks being connected by means of the pins or bolts traversing in the slots of the forked levers C C, will ceuse them to be depressed simultaneously, thus operating as a brake to retard the motion'of the sleigh. The points of forked levers C C are curved toward the back of the sleigh, so that if the' sleiglrpasses over .a stone or other obstruction in the road the sleigh ivill rideA over such obstruction without injury to the working purtsof the machine. It ismany times more convenient for the person driving a loaded sleigh or sled to walk at thesde or in the rea-rin order to operate the brake. Insuch cases I provide a pulley; z, having a. cord attached to the lever L. By pulling on the cord the brake will be set, and by slacking on the line the motion of the sleigh forward will cause the points of the levers C C, holding to the ground, to be thrown back, thus releasing the sleigh from the action of the brake at will. v What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is` v The combination of the cranks E and rod Bund lever L withv the slotted levers() C, so. as'to operate substantially as above described.

JOHN AST.

A Witnesses:

Tiros. B. HARRISON, RUSH H. BARNES. 

